Page 31 of Beneath the Quiet

Still, I stop, unable to shake the feeling that something’s off.

“What’s up?” Roísin places a hand on my arm.

“I’m not sure,” I murmur. I try to shrug off the strange sensation. “Nothing.” I rub my forehead. “Probably just my instincts running wild.”

“Well, it must be hard to switch them off.” Her brows knit, and she looks down at her feet as we start walking again. “I suppose you’re never off duty, are you?”

“No, not really. But I don’t mind it. I like knowing that I can help if someone needs it, and always paying attention to my surroundings means that no one is alone if they find themselves in a situation they can’t get away from.”

Roísin loops her arm through mine, and we walk in silence for a bit. “Don’t you get scared?”

I move my head from side to side. “It’s not something I think about. Besides, I’m not always out, trying to catch the bad guys. Most of the time, I’m behind a desk doing a bunch of paperwork.”

It’s not the whole truth, but I’m not sure I’m ready to divulge everything to my new friend.

“Hmm. But what about your family? Don’t they worry about you?”

I shake my head. “I don’t have any family.”

She blinks. “None?”

I shake my head. Her reaction is one I must’ve seen a thousand times, but it doesn’t sting or leave me vulnerable anymore. I’ve grown used to it. “I grew up in foster care.”

“Was it bad?”

I shrug. “It is what it is. I was one of the lucky ones. I stayed with the same family for almost a decade, so at least I had some stability. Others weren’t that lucky.” I open my mouth, hesitating but dig deep to find my courage and soldier on. “I keep in touch with my foster parents, Nellie and Jack, though, so I’m not completely alone.”

“Right.” She bumps her shoulder with mine. “So, no one special in your life like a boyfriend?”

I let out a wry laugh. “Not anymore. I’ve been single since I left Dublin.”

“Okay.” She bites her lip, surprising me with the note of vulnerability shining in her eyes. “I’ve never really had girls who were my friends. Mostly, I played with the boys at school, and being the youngest at home meant there was always one of my brothers to play with. By the time I hit puberty, I didn’t really know how to befriend girls my age, so I thought it’d be easier sticking with being a tomboy.”

I repeat her motion, trying to show her I appreciate her opening up to me.

“I’m glad you’re a pushy, straight-to-the-point girl who forces your delicious, caffeinated beverages on me several times a week,” I tease.

She chuckles. “Thanks. I’d say this friendship is off to a good start.”

“I agree wholeheartedly.”

We share knowing grins.

“Let’s go shopping.” Roísin points to the English Market in front of us. “This market has survived famines and wars, and you can’t visit Cork without stopping here.”

“Lead the way, then.”

As Roísin shows me one stall after the next that holds variations of delights and delicacies, another shard of my heart slides into place and mends one of the cracks that I’ve felt most of my life. I’m not altogether sure what it means in the long run, or if Cloonmara is the right place for me, but I’m going to try not to question everything too much. Instead, I’m resolved to attempt to live a simpler life for once. To live in the moment and relish the budding friendship between me and Roísin and let it grow at its own pace.

I may not be good at living in the moment, but I’ll never know if I can do it unless I try.

Chapter Ten

Maeve

“Are you going to be my good girl, Detective?” Aidan stands at the foot of my bed, a storm in his silver-grey eyes shining down at me. He’s fully clothed, but something is different about him. Perhaps it’s the prim blue shirt and tie. I’ve never seen him wear them before.

Somehow, I know it’s a dream, but it’s a dream I don’t want to wake up from.